"The turnips will be there, waiting for us. The bandits won't."
Dregan shrugs, it was an old argument one he was generally on Magna's side of, if the others agreed he would be happy to track down the bandits now.
"The turnips should be very near. It would be a shame to come all this way and return without them when we are so close. Then we should return to the Levetons, I agree."
From the description, you figure the moon radishes would be due West, in the forested area.
Talia ties her whip around her waist and then wends the end through the sleeves of the leather armor and ties it to the shortsword. Putting the map, amulet and gold into her belt pouch the woman slowly makes her way back up the spider hole, grinning as she pops her head out the hole.
"One of Haps's buddies was down there. He had one of those stag amulets on him - and also a bit of gold and a treasure map!"
-------
When the debate breaks out about the radishes, Talia frowns and says, "They should be due west. I agree with Naralesh - let's go find the radishes, collect them and then head back to Oleg and Svetlana for a night of well-earned rest. Don't forget that Svetlana promised us a purse-full of gold for those radishes. I'd like to buy some equipment before we head out to the bandit's lair." Turning to Magna, the noble then says, "Which I'd like to do as soon. But first I'd like some better armor and a buckler, as well as a better sword."
Never the competent woodsman or rider, Talia simply follows along with the others, keeping her wits about her and eyes gazing out into the rain, looking for threats.
The rain dampens her mood a bit, and the noblewoman is silent for long stretches as the group moves along, thoughts turned inwards to roaring fires and good wine.
In the forest Dregan rides only a few feet in front of the rest. His movements show tension but he is smiling and humming to himself.
"Let's find those radishes then, but I hope you all will be ready to find the bandits after delivering them to Mrs. Leventon."
13 Pharast 4707
The rains continue through the day, the air chill in the early spring.
The plains give way to forest, thin at the edges, but gradually turning to deep, green woods as you explore the interior. Beech and elm form this old-wood forest, and the lack of light from the canopy prevents undergrowth from growing on the forest floor. A layer of wet leaves dampens the sounds from your horses, creating an eerie silence.
Late in the day, just before dusk, you are alerted by the sound of several creatures moaning. It appears to be coming from a clearing ahead of you.
Magna moves her horse towards the moaning.
"Hello? Are you ok? Do you need help?"
Dregan also urges his horse forward keeping level with Magna.
Talia's spirits pick up a little as they enter the forest - it is deep and green, and she'd grown tired of the scrub and plains stretching out across her field of vision. An added treat, the old-wood canopy keeps much of the constant rain off the woman's face, a welcome turn of events despite the rain-soaked chill going through the Talia's body.
Biting down on her glove to keep the shivers at bay, she stops for a second, pulling her horse up at the sounds of moaning, and then dismounts and ties her steed to the nearest tree, wincing as Magna spurs her horse forward. "Magna," the noble whispers, "they could be bandits, or spirits, or... or something!" Cursing under her breath, Talia draws her scorpion whip and hustles towards the clearing.
Entering the clearing, you are greeted by a strange sight. Four kobolds lie on the ground. They are flat on their backs, holding their hands over their distended bellies. Around them are baskets full of a pale vegetable, and the debris of countless more - obviously eaten - are all about.
At the sound of Magna's voice, they spring to their feet. They grab their small spears and hiss at you: "Oi ! আপনি যদি আমাদের মূলা প্যাচ সম্পর্কে কি কি?"
Talia grimaces. She's never seen a kobold before, but their small stature, draconic appearance and voracious appetite mark them distinclty for what they are. "Anyone speak their tongue? They look, well, not exactly menacing, but like they're trying to menace." Clearing her throat, she speaks loudly and slowly, in Taldan.
"I 'ave no clue." Dregan says as he dismounts.
"What are they? Are they some sort of fey creature? If they are we'd be'er be careful."
"Kobolds. Miners and craftsmen, little creatures that seethe with hate and jealousy. They live in warrens underground and have a great love for moon radishes, it appears."
You know they are kobolds from wandering menageries you've seen in the past. Other than that...
They are indeed threatening, in so far as they are in a line with spears pointed at you. But they do not attack. You do notice that their position is defensive, in front of their baskets. All you know about these little bipedal lizards is that they are purported to be evil.
Talia makes a motion with her hand, pointing to the kobold's spears and then, palm facing down, lowering it towards the ground, while still talking loudly and slowly. "Spears. Ground. Please?"
One of the kobolds steps forward...half a step. He gestures with his spear, jabbing it forward at each word to emphasize his point.
"You...no take! Our roots! Our roots! You no take!"
If they are evil shouldn't we kill them? And then we could take the Radishes. But how would we be different from the bandits, killing and stealing. Maybe we should trade for the Radishes and then kill them for being evil. That works.
"Maybe yew would consider a trade we 'ave dis nice meat. Aaahr meat fer yaaahr roots" Dregan says pulling out some of the elk out and pointing at it then the radishes.
Gavriil dismounts from his horse and places his hand on the basket-guard of his rapier. Another beast he'd never seen before, but had heard stories of in taverns and houses of I'll-repute. He couldn't help but chuckle at the descriptions of the dragonlings rolling through his head. They were hardly half his height! He glances at Talia when she tells them about them and says back, "Maybe too much love for them, Miss."
He takes a step forward ahead of the others and with his palms outstretched says, "We mean you no harm,we just merely wished to trade with you like my companion said. We'll make it worth your while for a few baskets of those radishes. Of course we do not mean to offend the great and powerful dragonkin of these forests!" He's not sure if the kobolds understand him, but he holds himself high, deigning respect from the kobolds, while still being non-threatening.
The 'largest' of the kobolds steps forward and sniffs the air at Dregan's offering. Once Gav comes forward he takes a step back, but puffs up his chest at the words 'great' and 'powerful'.
"Yesss!" he hisses, "Me great and powerful Rasssik! My patch! My roots! You no take, or DIE!"
Gavriil smirks at the little dragon-man. He glances at the others before continuing with, "Ahhhh... I didn't know we were in the company of the great Rasssik! Allow me to introduce myself. I am The Great Gavriil. Destroyer of ale, slayer of wenches hearts, and procurer of goods!" He nods to the others and continues with the roguish smile on his face, "and these are my companions! Dregan! Tracker extraordinaire! He once track someone who slighted me several leagues! Talia, mistress of misfortune! She makes all who cross us rue the day! Magna, procurer of justice! Many a chieftain have fallen to her great arm! And finally, Naralesh! Mystical wizard of many wondrous and mesmerizing power that I can't even fathom. Hear me and be warned, many a for has been stopped by our combined force! We will have those radishes! We will trade for them so to spare your greatness!"
With that he stands with all the regal muster he can fake and slowly draws his rapier to prove he's serious.
"You should fear The Great Gavriil! But he is fair as well as powerful. He wishes to trade for the radishes, not take them. What is it you desire most, mighty Rasssik?" Amused by the turn of events, Naralesh plays the part of the mysterious and powerful conjurer with enthusiasm, putting on an exaggerated air of mystery and ominous portent as he speaks.
Magna whispers to the others.
"I don't think they are to any good... we can't let them escape."
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Rasssik looks at Gavriil with wide eyes, taking a step back. But then he grips his spear tighter and and growls, "You no take! No trade! Now you die!"
Magna grabs her Axe with both hands and and tries to lead her new warhorse to attack the closest Kobold.
She closes up and makes a vertical cutting motion with her axe, trying to split the kobold head in two.
"Don't let them escape!"
Naralesh shrugs off his armored coat. He produces a mixture of colored sands and shouts a forceful incantation as his hands trace a wide sigil before him. "Baenath! Feshtak! Nilthix!" A spiraling blast of blinding, cacophanous lights erupts from his splayed fingertips, washing over the tiny lizard-men like a wave of light and color.
Gavriil grins as the head Kobold takes a step back. Hey, what do ya know! It worked! he thought. But then Rasssik steps forward again and tells them that they are going to die. Well, it was fun while it lasted. His face curls into a snarl and he storms towards Rasssik, "Then die!"
Once he is up close and personal with the scamp he plunges his rapier at him.
Magna cuts a kobold from head to navel, then Naralesh's spell renders another three unconscious. The last one barely avoids Gav's thrust. That one looks around at his former companions, then flies as fast as his small legs will take him.
Magna quickly gives pursuit, and hopes to catch him quickly enough, as she is mounted.
Talia stands, unsure of what to do, as Gavriil and Naralesh speak quite convincingly to the kobold Rasssik, and so convinced that a deal can be reached, the noblewoman is slow to act when the kobold raises his spear, hissing at the party. She watches as the group springs to action around her, like a coiled snake, all striking at once; Magna surging forward on her horse, splitting her target into gory, slopping halves. Naralesh to her side, ribbons of color sprouting from his outstretched hands, washing over the kobolds and dropping them, dazed, to the ground, and Gavriil charging, sword in hand, thrusting just over the last kobold's shoulder, as the creature ducks and turns tail.
Spurring herself to action, Talia steps up to one of the kobolds, unconscious on the ground, and looks down at the little creature, twitching next to its bag of radishes, dropped when the kobold fell from Naralesh's spell. They brought this on themselves. You tried. These foolish creatures never had a chance. Vaguely aware of Magna's horse charging by her, Talia drops her scorpion whip, and drawing her shortsword, runs it through the kobold's neck, a feeling of intense guilt rising in the woman.
Gavriil swore as his sword harmlessly flew over the shoulder of Rasssik to pierce the air once again as his foot slid on a wet leaf at the last moment. He was about to strike again when the bugger turned and ran away. He gave Magna's horse a slap to its rear as she galloped past him after the kobold.
He turned to face the others just as Talia dropped her sword into one of the kobold's neck. He gave her a slight smile and said, "Well, that went well. Wouldn't you say?
He then turned to Naralesh and, with a huge wolfish grin on his face, said, "Not bad at all! We'll have you swindling candy from children and stealing the hearts of women before no time, 'oh great and mysterious' Naralesh!" He pauses with his face scrunched up in frustration, "Well, as soon as we get back to civilization, that is."
Magna's horse catches the small draconian, crushing it under its iron shod hooves. The kobold is trampled to a bloody pulp, ruined flesh and wet leaves mixing on the forest floor.
Magna sees the kobold corpse with disgust.
"Filthy creatures!"
She unmounts and checks all the kobolds are dead, taking the steps necessary to make sure of it.
The fighting done Dregan will move forward and moves the baskets of radishes away from the bleeding creatures. Then goes to his packs and pulls out his spade and finds a good spot to start digging graves.
Talia assists Dregan with the gathering of the radishes, and then goes about searching the area and the kobolds for any possessions, eventually dragging the little creatures over to their gravesites.
Magna will help too...
"Naralesh, please keep an eye open in case more of these creatures are scurrying about."
Naralesh stares silently at Magna for a long moment with his one good eye, wondering whether her comment was intentional. No, she's not unkind. I'm sure it was just a poor choice of words. I'll not make her feel guilty over it by responding rudely. He replies, "Of course. Nora and I shall keep watch."
The kobolds are soon buried in the soft turf, and the moon radishes are gathered.
Its a chilly, wet trip back to Oleg's. The light rain continues, and once you leave the protection of the forest, a northern wind drives the drizzle into your faces.
Soon, though, the wooden palisade hoves into view over a small rise. A bell rings out three times, rolling over the tall grass towards you. A few moments later you come around to the gates of the trading post. The wooden barrier is open, but is in a good state of repair. A small farm plot has been set aside and plowed on the south side of the post. Two guards watch from towers, and a small committee stands in the open, waiting.
Oleg, Svetlana, Nat, Asha, and Kesten all stand watching you and your wet and weary horses approach the post.
Kesten steps forward and greets you, giving you a quick debrief on the events of the past days. Repairs, farm plot, supply issues, etc. Svetlana eagerly takes the radishes from you as Nat takes the horses to the stalls. Oleg stands aloof through it all, with arms crossed, a stern look on his face.
Magna smiles, relieved that all is good at the fort. she asks Kesten.
"Captain, thank you for your good work. Any news of the bandits? Anything else that transpired during our absence."
Talia keeps to herself on the ride back to Oleg's - which turns out to be a wet, miserable affair, the northern wind receiving many silent curses from the noblewoman as it pushes the drizzle into the playwrights face.
As they approach Oleg and Svetlana's, Talia spies the figures waiting by the gate and her hand goes reflexively to her scorpion whip, gripping it tightly as the group approaches, before she makes out the familiar forms of Asha and Kesten. Ah, good. The bandits weren't lying it seems - they have yet to miss foolish dead Happs.
Dismounting, Talia gives her horse to Nat, giving the perhaps reformed bandit a hard look, but remaining silent. Turning to Svetlana, the noble rubs her hands together and blows into them in a vain attempt to gain a little warmth. Nodding towards Nat, Talia says, "That one. How's his behavior been? He your stable boy now?"
Stretching, Talia continues. "Dregan has the radishes. 250 as we discussed. Magna can decide whether or not she wants to give her share back. I'd like to put a down payment on a wand as well - a fine little twig to heal wounds in a pinch. Think you or your husband can secure one from Restov? And how much for a hot bath and a hot dinner?"
Gavriil keept his usually running trap shut for the ride back to Oleg's. The others didn't seem to have been in the mood for his singing and, truth be told, he wasn't up for it either. The riding and the rain had even brought his mood down a few pegs. And once the wind started to throw the rain in his face he decided it was time to invest in either a hat or a cloak.
Finally, the trading post appeared on the horizon. A grin slapped itself across his face at the thought of a warm bed, and quite possibly a bath. Cayden knows he needed one. Once they had reached the outpost he nonchalantly handed the reins to Nat and listened to Kesten's debriefing. So Nat wasn't lying and our gamble paid off, he thought, Good, then we have some time. He turned to Talia's conversation with Svetlana and added to it, "And I'd like to purchase some clothes that aren't soaking wet if you have any." He shoots Talia a sly grin and a wink, "And maybe we should share that tub. To save our hosts the trouble of fetching more hot water?"
Dregan smiles at the welcoming party "Its good to be back and see you all safe." Jumping down he motions Svetlana to follow him and Nat. Once out of sight of Oleg he reaches into the packs and gives her the Radishes. "Do you need any help preparing them?"
Magna smiles, relieved that all is good at the fort. she asks Kesten.
"Captain, thank you for your good work. Any news of the bandits? Anything else that transpired during our absence."
"No miss. No signs of the bandits. Nothing untoward - as I reported. The gate repairs are complete, and one of the small catapults is fixed while the other nearly so."
Dismounting, Talia gives her horse to Nat, giving the perhaps reformed bandit a hard look, but remaining silent. Turning to Svetlana, the noble rubs her hands together and blows into them in a vain attempt to gain a little warmth. Nodding towards Nat, Talia says, "That one. How's his behavior been? He your stable boy now?"
Svetlana gives you a stern look. "Stable boy? No. Nat has been as good as his word. He has done nothing but work since you left. Cut that farm plot, helped with the repairs, tended the animals. Turns out he is quite the farmer."
Stretching, Talia continues. "Dregan has the radishes. 250 as we discussed. Magna can decide whether or not she wants to give her share back. I'd like to put a down payment on a wand as well - a fine little twig to heal wounds in a pinch. Think you or your husband can secure one from Restov? And how much for a hot bath and a hot dinner?"
Oleg interrupts. "I see manners are lost out here on the frontier - or when one fancies themselves a hero - good morning, we are fine, thanks." He stomps away, heading for the main building. "I'll order your things." He calls over his shoulder.
Svetlana watches him go. "Don't mind him. All of the bustle has him on edge. Not used to sharing space, I guess. And don't worry about paying for the room and bath, we agreed that would taken care of, remember?" She hands you a small purse. It jingles as it you take it. "As agreed. This will cheer him up!"
She eagerly accepts the radish baskets from Dregan with a curtsy. "No sir, no help needed! Secret recipe and all that!" She grins.
Talia watches Oleg storm off, and turns to Svetlana. "No, Oleg's right - this grey day has put me in a mood too. I was in a hurry to be out of the rain and forgot my decorum. Please accept my sincere apologies. And I'm glad that Nat has been as good as his word - I only ask to see of everyone's safety." After a pause, as she pockets the coin purse, the playwright smiles, and can't contain herself. "I must say though, an innkeeper who doesn't like sharing his space is a most unusual innkeeper!"
---------------
When Gavriil winks and grins and states his proposition, Talia's jaw drops in surprise. I never would have been propositioned by a smallfolk back in Restov! She tries to think of a clever retort, but her jaw just opens and closes, her mouth at first just emmitting stammers and sounds. "I... hh... um... ahhh... don't think Oleg and Svetlana were planning on running a love hotel!" Blushing, Talia pulls her cloak's hood around her face and wrapping her cloak around herself, hurries inside, casting a look back at Gavriil on the way, the sides of her mouth turned up in a smile.
---------------
Seeing Oleg rummaging around the main building, Talia sheds her cloak, and hanging it on a nearby rack, gives the old grump her best Brevic curtsy. "I am sorry for my brusque nature outside, Oleg. You were correct that I lost my manners. Thank you for securing our things, and good morning to you." That said, Talia heads to her room to get dry.